The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 53

-Ava’s POV-

I felt him everywhere.

His presence, his touch, his kiss-

each seemed to linger in my very core, filling up every hollow part I hadn’t even realized was empty. Kissing wasn’t supposed to feel like this startlingly, overwhelmingly real. All my instincts were screaming at

me to stop, to pull away, to remember this wasn’t supposed to happen, but all of it faded the moment he deepened the kiss. And before I kn

But of course, he had to open his mouth and ruin it, reminding me that I was just being stupid.

Why had I kissed him back?

Even worse, Isabella hadn’t shut up about it since we

got in the car. She chattered away beside me, her excitement bouncing off the walls as we headed to her place. Meanwhile, Eliza followed ɩ and told her Grayson had given her the rest of the day off. It was a Saturday, after all-

she deserved at least that much.

I was trying to focus on Isabella’s enthusiastic rambling, but then something caught my attention. “Wait! Damn it, I didn’t even think about w Isabella shrugged, eyes still on the road. “I’m sure Grayson would—”

“No,” I cut her off, shaking my head. “I’m not asking him to do anything. It’s not a real marriage, anyway. There’s not going to be a honeymo or anything. I’ll just show up to work as planned. If anyone recognizes me and asks, I’ll make something up about my ‘passion for saving live “Which is true,” she pointed out with a grin. “Your zeal actually does outweigh it.”

I sighed, feeling the weight of the entire ridiculous situation pressing down on me. Isabella threw me a quick look. “So, you ready to talk abo “There was nothing explosive about it,” I replied, my tone sharper than I intended. “It was for show.”

“Oh,-

please.” She rolled her eyes. “That man has probably trained himself to reject anything that feels remotely like

emotion, and even I, as the self-

appointed relationship expert, can tell you that the ‘just for show’ excuse was his little safety net. You don’t kiss someone like that if you don

I avoided her gaze, choosing instead to stare out the window as the scenery passed by. “And when exactly did you become a relationship e She grinned, as if relishing the memory. “Deservingly

so. But that’s not the point, Lilian. That man has feelings for you.”

The words hit harder than I wanted to admit. Grayson’s confession in the hotel came rushing back, echoing in my mind, and how at the pool someone I hadn’t even known a month ago.

I needed to change the subject. “When we get to your place, let’s keep it quiet on the werewolf talk and no accidental slip up about this bein Isabella gave me a mock-

annoyed look. “Seriously, Lilian? That’s part of the best friend pact! And yes, no werewolf talk. But we do need to figure out what’s going on

@87%

I smiled and leaned my head back, closing my eyes. For years, I’d told myself I didn’t need a counterpart-

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